The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-04-07
Profit In Pigs,

Every few years the cry is raised that
''the bottom has entirely dropped out
of pork" 1t drops out every time there
is a scare about trichin@. 1t drops out
again whenever another European
country places an embargo on our hog
products. 1t drops out each time a re-
port is circulated that cotton-seed oil or
beef fat is employed to adulterate lard.
It drops out as often as the swine
plague breaks u In a drove of hogs in
any part of the country. 1t drops out
so often that comparatively few think
that it will ever keep in its proper
place. Most farmers believe that the
bottom will drop out of pork before a
litter of pigs can be fitted for the mar
ket.
Still, for the first time in many years,
est meat in the market. During some
time there has been considerable spec
ulation in pork, and the price has adj
vanced somewhat on that account; but
pork is high on it's merits. The truth
is, demand for pork is always steady.
1t is the favorite meat of nearly all
persons who do hard work. Miners,
lumbermen, sailors, and men employed
in building railroads prefer pork. 1t is
the same in most of the countries of
Europe. Persons who work hard and
have poor wages find pork to be the
most economical meat, as it furnishes
fat that is generally used in the place
of butter, which is beyond their means
to buy.
Pork can be cured and cooked in so
many ways that it affords a better vari-
ETY. or a more frequent change than
beef or mutton. 1t appears to be the
the best meat for a steady diet. One
will become tired of any kind of poultry
or game much sooner than of salt pork.
The leaner parts of a hog, when cured
with salt and sugar and smoked, are
extensively used as relishes, and are
much cheaper than cheese, which is
generally eaten as a condiment. Head
cheese, pigs feet and pork sausage de-
serve to rank among the delicacies that
are costly to buy or difficult to prepare.
most kinds of meat.
The losses of pigs by the disease
popularity known as hog cholera have
been very large during the past ten
years. but the losses through other
causes have been comparatively small.
Many sheep are annually killed by
dogs and wolves, but very few pigs are
killed or injured by animals. A pig
very rarely strays away or becomes
lost. as is the case with colts and young
cattle, and it is q difficult matter to
steal a live pig, and not be detected in
the act. Fewer pigs than cattle or
horses are injured by contracting lame
ness, and if one receives a mechanical
injury its flesh can. generally be saved
and utilized if it is slaughtered within a
short time.
Pigs multiply quicker than any
other animals kept or farms, come to
maturity IN a shorter time, and pro-
duce marketable meat in proper
ton to the amount of food they con-
sumo. These are very strong points in
their favor. They require less shelter
than cattle. horses, or sheep, the build
ings necessary to protect them need
not be expensive. Poor farmers can
not raise horses for the reason that it
costs so much to erect buildings to pro-
tect them, but few farmers are so poor
that they cannot obtain materials that
will protect pigs from the cold and wet,
All things considered pigs are the best
stock for farmers of small means to
keep Chicago Times.